U.S. patent application number 11/201051 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for wireless network system, wireless communication device and connection set-up method.
Invention is credited to Mitsuhiro Watanabe.
Application Number | 20060034234 11/201051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35799851 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060034234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watanabe; Mitsuhiro |
February 16, 2006 |
Wireless network system, wireless communication device and
connection set-up method
Abstract
Parameters relating to wireless communication in a wireless
network system are set in a printer, which is to be wirelessly
connected to the network system anew, from a personal computer that
is already wirelessly connected, and the personal computer acquires
identification information of the printer and transmits this
identification information to an access point. The access point
sets up the connection to the printer based upon the identification
information that has been transmitted from the personal computer.
This makes it possible to connect a new wireless communication
apparatus to a wireless network system through a simple set-up
operation.
Inventors: |
Watanabe; Mitsuhiro;
(Ebina-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN & FINNEGAN, L.L.P.
3 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
NEW YORK
NY
10281-2101
US
|
Family ID: |
35799851 |
Appl. No.: |
11/201051 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/338 ;
370/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 92/18 20130101;
H04W 76/11 20180201; H04W 84/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/338 ;
370/349 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/24 20060101
H04Q007/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2004 |
JP |
2004-233430 |
Claims
1. A wireless network system in which a wireless network is
constructed by a wireless communication apparatus and an access
point, comprising: a device configured to set parameters, which
relate to wireless communication in the wireless network system,
from an already wirelessly connected first wireless communication
apparatus to a second wireless communication apparatus to be
wirelessly connected anew; a device whereby the first wireless
communication apparatus acquires identification information of the
second wireless communication apparatus; a device whereby the first
wireless communication apparatus transmits the identification
information to the access point; and a device whereby the access
point manages a connection to the second wireless communication
apparatus based upon the identification information that has been
transmitted from the first wireless communication apparatus.
2. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a setting device
configured to set parameters, which relate to wireless
communication in a wireless network system to another wireless
communication apparatus; an acquisition device configured to
acquire identification information of said another wireless
communication apparatus; and a transmission device configured to
transmit the identification information to a access point, and
cause the access point to perform connection management of said
another wireless communication apparatus.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmission
device sets the identification information to the access point as a
device connectable to the access point.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a MAC address of
said another wireless communication apparatus is used as the
identification information of said another wireless communication
apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmission
device transmits the identification information by using an SNMP
(Simple Network Management Protocol).
6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmission
device transmits the identification information by accessing an
HTML server provided by the access point.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said setting device
sets the parameters when a driver for using said another wireless
communication apparatus is installed.
8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said acquisition
device acquires the identification information when the parameters
are set by said setting device.
9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmission
device transmits the identification information after the
parameters are set by said setting device.
10. A method of setting up a connection in a wireless network
system in which a wireless network is constructed by a wireless
communication apparatus and an access point, the method comprising:
setting parameters, which relate to wireless communication in the
wireless network system, from an already wirelessly connected first
wireless communication apparatus to a second wireless communication
apparatus to be wirelessly connected anew; acquiring identification
information of the second wireless communication apparatus by the
first wireless communication apparatus; transmitting the
identification information to the access point by the first
wireless communication apparatus; and managing a connection to the
second wireless communication apparatus by the first wireless
communication apparatus based upon the identification information
that has been transmitted from the first wireless communication
apparatus.
11. A method of setting up a connection of a wireless communication
apparatus, the method comprising: setting parameters, which relate
to wireless communication in the wireless network system, to
another wireless communication apparatus; acquiring identification
information of said another wireless communication apparatus; and
transmitting the identification information to a access point and
causing the access point to perform connection management of said
another wireless communication apparatus.
12. A program for causing a computer to implement the method of
setting up a connection of a wireless communication apparatus set
forth in claim 11.
13. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program set
forth in claim 12 has been recorded.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2004-233430 filed Aug. 10, 2004, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a technique for setting up a
connection to an access point in a wireless network system in which
a plurality of wireless communication devices construct a
network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Peripherals such as digital cameras, printers, storage
devices, scanners, data input devices and data output devices
handled as the peripheral devices of computers are now capable of
communicating directly, without the intervention of a computer,
using cables. Meanwhile, there is growing demand for the wireless
transmission of information that has been performed via cable until
now, and wireless communication is starting to be used in
communication among the above-mentioned peripheral devices (e.g.,
see Prior Art 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2003-218875).
[0004] In order to assure security in a wireless network, it is so
arranged that wireless terminals that are capable of accessing the
wireless network are limited by means such as MAC address filtering
at the access point.
[0005] The following two-stage set-up operation is required in
order to make it possible to connect a new wireless communication
device to a wireless network system, and the set-up operation is a
troublesome one: [0006] (1) the parameters of the wireless network
system are set in the new wireless communication device; and [0007]
(2) information concerning the new wireless communication device is
registered at the access point as an accessible terminal.
[0008] When these setting are terminated, a new wireless
communication device can join in a wireless network, and
communication via the wireless network can be performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make
it possible to connect a new wireless communication device to a
wireless network system.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the
foregoing object is attained by providing a wireless network system
in which a wireless network is constructed by a wireless
communication apparatus and an access point, comprising: [0011] a
device configured to set parameters, which relate to wireless
communication in the wireless network system, from an already
wirelessly connected first wireless communication apparatus to a
second wireless communication apparatus to be wirelessly connected
anew; [0012] a device whereby the first wireless communication
apparatus acquires identification information of the second
wireless communication apparatus; [0013] a device whereby the first
wireless communication apparatus transmits the identification
information to the access point; and [0014] a device whereby the
access point manages a connection to the second wireless
communication apparatus based upon the identification information
that has been transmitted from the first wireless communication
apparatus.
[0015] Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a wireless communication apparatus
comprising: [0016] a setting device configured to set parameters,
which relate to wireless communication in a wireless network system
to another wireless communication apparatus; [0017] an acquisition
device configured to acquire identification information of the
another wireless communication apparatus; and [0018] a transmission
device configured to transmit the identification information to a
access point, and cause the access point to perform connection
management of the another wireless communication apparatus.
[0019] Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of setting up a connection in
a wireless network system in which a wireless network is
constructed by a wireless communication apparatus and an access
point, the method comprising: [0020] setting parameters, which
relate to wireless communication in the wireless network system,
from an already wirelessly connected first wireless communication
apparatus to a second wireless communication apparatus to be
wirelessly connected anew; [0021] acquiring identification
information of the second wireless communication apparatus by the
first wireless communication apparatus; [0022] transmitting the
identification information to the access point by the first
wireless communication apparatus; and [0023] managing a connection
to the second wireless communication apparatus by the first
wireless communication apparatus based upon the identification
information that has been transmitted from the first wireless
communication apparatus.
[0024] Further, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of setting up a connection of
a wireless communication apparatus, the method comprising: [0025]
setting parameters, which relate to wireless communication in the
wireless network system, to another wireless communication
apparatus; [0026] acquiring identification information of the
another wireless communication apparatus; and [0027] transmitting
the identification information to a access point and causing the
access point to perform connection management of the another
wireless communication apparatus.
[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principle of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a wireless network system;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
structure of a wireless-LAN-compatible printer;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement in which the
printer is set up from a personal computer;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the installation of a
driver in the personal computer and the setting of the printer by
the personal computer;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which access
from the printer is refused by an access point;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting up
the access point by a personal computer;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the
wireless-LAN-compatible printer has been connected to the wireless
network system;
[0037] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a wireless network system according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0038] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating set-up processing by a
personal computer according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Preferred embodiments for practicing the present invention
will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Although a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE 802.11x is taken as an
example of a wireless network in this embodiment, the present
invention is not limited to this example and is applicable also to
other wireless networks.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0040] A set-up method in a case where a wireless terminal is
connected to a network such as a wireless LAN compliant with IEEE
802.11x of IEEE 802.11b/a/g, etc. will be described below with
reference to the drawings.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a wireless network system. As shown in FIG. 1, a
personal computer (PC) 101 is connected to an access point 103
using a wireless LAN, and a personal computer 105 is connected to
the access point 103 using a wired LAN line 104.
[0042] The access point 103 acts as a relay between the wireless
LAN and the wired LAN line 104 and is capable of communicating data
between the personal computer 101 and the personal computer
105.
[0043] A method of setting up terminals in a case where the
wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 is connected to a network in an
infrastructure-mode wireless network system of the above kind will
now be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement
in which the printer 102 is set up from the personal computer 101.
As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 and
personal computer 101 are connected to each other using a wired
line and the printer 102 is set using the personal computer
101.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the installation of a
driver in the personal computer 101 and the setting of the printer
by the personal computer 101. First, if it is decided at step S401
that the driver of the wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 is to be
installed in the personal computer 101, control proceeds to step
S402, at which the printer driver for the printer 102 is installed.
If installation has been completed, or if the driver is not to be
installed, control proceeds to step S403. Here it is determined
whether a wireless LAN set-up is to be made for the printer 102. If
the wireless LAN set-up is to be performed, control proceeds to
step S404, where an application for setting up the wireless LAN for
printer 102 is launched, and then to step S405, at which the
parameters of the wireless LAN are set.
[0045] By virtue of the processing shown in FIG. 4, preparations
for connecting the wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 to the
access point 103 are completed. On the side of the 103, however, if
an accessible terminal is being set, access from the printer 102
will be refused, as shown in FIG. 5, for the sake of security. As a
consequence, printing from the personal computer 101 to the printer
102 still cannot be carried out. Accordingly, it is necessary to
make a setting at the access point 103 that will allow access from
the printer 102.
[0046] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing for setting up
the access point 103 by the personal computer 105. First, if an
operation for setting up the access point 103 is performed at step
S601, control proceeds to step S602, at which an application for
setting up the access point is launched. Then, at step S603, a
setting for enabling connection of the wireless-LAN-compatible
printer 102 to the access point 103 is made in the application.
This setting is processing whereby the MAC address of the printer
102 is registered as a MAC address that is capable of being
connected to the access point 103.
[0047] Thus, as described above, in order to use the printer 102,
first the wireless-environment parameters are set in the
wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 from the personal computer 101,
then a setting for allowing connection of the printer 102 to the
access point 103 is performed at the personal computer 105. When
these setting are terminated, it finally becomes possible for the
printer 102 to participate in the wireless network system. FIG. 7
is a diagram illustrating a state in which the
wireless-LAN-compatible printer 102 has been connected to the
wireless network system.
[0048] A method for simplifying a setting operation to connect a
new wireless communication device to a wireless network will be
described.
[0049] A set-up method for making it possible to connect a
wireless-LAN-compatible printer to an access point of a wireless
LAN through a simple operation at a computer such as a personal
computer in an infrastructure-mode wireless network system will be
described as a first embodiment.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the
configuration of a wireless network system according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, a personal
computer (PC) 801 and a wireless-LAN-compatible printer 802 to be
added to the system anew are connected by a cable (e.g., a USB,
LAN, etc.) and the parameters of the wireless LAN are set from the
personal computer 801.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
structure of the wireless-LAN-compatible printer 802. A console 210
in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of keys and is connected to a CPU
215 via a system controller 211. A printer engine 202 actually
prints an image on paper and receives an input of image data that
has been processed by a print processor 203. A display unit 206,
such as an LCD display, LED display or voice display, displays
information to a user. Display information that has been processed
by a display processor 207 is input to the display unit 206.
[0052] A wireless communication function unit 204 controls wireless
communication, and an RF unit 205 sends and receives a radio signal
to and from other wireless communication devices. A memory card
interface 208 is an interface for connecting a memory card 209, a
USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 212 is an interface for
connecting an external device using a USB, and a parallel interface
214 is an interface for connecting an external device using
parallel communication.
[0053] These functional units are controlled by commands from the
CPU 215, a program that is executed by the CPU 215 is stored in a
ROM 216 or flash ROM 213, and data processed by the CPU 215 is
written to or read in from the RAM 217 or flash ROM 213.
[0054] In a case where the wireless-LAN-compatible printer 802 is
set up as a printer in a wireless network system in the
configuration described above, the personal computer 801 and
printer 802 are connected to each other by a cable, as shown for
example in FIG. 8, and the parameters (network identifier, secret
code, authentication, etc.) of the wireless network system are set
from the personal computer 801.
[0055] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating set-up processing
executed by the personal computer 801 according to the first
embodiment. First, if it is found at step S901 that a user has
instructed the personal computer 801 to install the printer driver
for the printer 802, then control proceeds to step S902, at which
the personal computer 801 starts the installation of the driver.
When installation ends, control proceeds to step S903, at which the
wireless-LAN parameters of the printer 802 are set automatically
using wireless-LAN parameters that have been stored in the personal
computer 801.
[0056] Next, the personal computer 801 acquires printer-specific
information (e.g., a MAC address) from the printer 802 at step S904
and makes a connection to an access point 803 by the wireless LAN
at step S905. Finally, at step S906, the personal computer 801
transmits the printer-specific information to the access point 803,
and sets specific information of the printer 802 to the access
point 803. That is, the personal computer 801 sets printer-specific
information to the access point 803 as device information being
connectable to the access point 803.
[0057] Thus, in accordance with the first embodiment, the user,
merely by installing a printer driver from a personal computer,
sets up the necessary wireless-LAN environment at both the printer
and access point and makes it possible for the printer to be used
immediately within the wireless network system.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0058] A second embodiment of the present invention will now be
described. In the first embodiment, a printer has been described as
an example of the wireless communication device. However, a digital
camera, storage device, scanner, data input device or data output
device, etc., can be made connectable to a wireless LAN system in
simple fashion as a wireless communication device using a similar
method.
[0059] Further, the connection between the personal computer 801
and printer 802 is a wired connection in the first embodiment.
However, it is also possible to implement the connection using a
short-distance communication scheme that employs an IrDA (Infrared
Data Association) scheme or weak radio waves.
[0060] In addition, a wireless LAN has been mentioned as an example
of a wireless communication scheme. However, the present invention
is applicable even with a USB or other wireless communication
scheme. Further, although a MAC address has been mentioned as an
example of information specific to a wireless communication device,
it is also possible to apply information that distinguishes the
device, such as IPv6.
[0061] Further, as other examples of methods of restricting access
of the personal computer 801 to the access point 803, a technique
that sets limitation on access by employing a standardized database
referred to as an MIB (Management Information Base) using a network
management protocol referred to as SNMP (Simple Network Management
Protocol) or a manufacturer-specific company MIB may be used.
[0062] Further, it is permissible to apply a technique whereby the
set-up is made using a command that is specific to the access
point, or a technique whereby the set-up is performed upon
accessing an HTML server that provides the access point.
[0063] Thus, as described above, the embodiments are such that in a
wireless network system in which a plurality of wireless
communication devices perform wireless communication via an access
point, parameters relating to wireless communication in the
wireless network system are transmitted from a first wireless
communication device, which is already performing wireless
communication in the wireless network system, to a second wireless
communication device, which is about to perform wireless
communication in the wireless network system from now onward.
Information that identifies the second wireless communication
device is transmitted to the first wireless communication device,
the information that identifies the second wireless communication
device is transmitted from the first wireless communication device
to the access point, and the access point allows access from the
second wireless communication device based upon the information
that has been transmitted from the first wireless communication
device. As a result, it becomes possible for the second wireless
communication device to perform communication in the system, the
setting of the parameters for wireless communication can be
performed with ease and a new wireless communication device can be
incorporated in the system easily.
[0064] The present invention can be applied to a system constituted
by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, interface,
reader, printer, etc.) or to an apparatus comprising a single
device (e.g., a copier or facsimile machine, etc.).
[0065] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the object of the
invention is attained also by supplying a recording medium storing
the program codes of the software for performing the functions of
the foregoing embodiments to a system or an apparatus, reading the
program codes with a computer (e.g., a CPU or MPU) of the system or
apparatus from the recording medium, and then executing the program
codes.
[0066] In this case, the program codes read from the recording
medium implement the novel functions of the embodiments and the
recording medium storing the program codes constitutes the
invention.
[0067] Examples of recording media that can be used for supplying
the program code are a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk,
magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile
type memory card or ROM, etc.
[0068] Furthermore, besides the case where the aforesaid functions
according to the embodiments are implemented. by executing the
program codes read by a computer, it goes without saying that the
present invention covers a case where an operating system or the
like running on the computer performs a part of or the entire
process in accordance with the designation of program codes and
implements the functions according to the embodiments.
[0069] It goes without saying that the present invention further
covers a case where, after the program codes read from the
recording medium are written in a function expansion board inserted
into the computer or in a memory provided in a function expansion
unit connected to the computer, a CPU or the like contained in the
function expansion board or function expansion unit performs a part
of or the entire process in accordance with the designation of
program codes and implements the function of the above
embodiments.
[0070] In accordance with the present invention, it is possible for
a new wireless communication device to be connected to a wireless
network system through a simple set-up operation.
[0071] As many apparently widely different embodiments of the
present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in
the appended claims.
* * * * *